Our Trustee, Petronella, writes about her visit to Larkmead School in September for their ‘Make a Difference’ Volunteer Week celebration.

Make a Difference week at Larkmead school is when the nearly 100 Year 12 pupils choose a social enterprise to join for a week. This culminated recently in an impressive and heartwarming presentation of their experiences to a packed school hall with all the sixth form, and representatives from the hosting organisations, as audience.

Individual groups had worked with Abingdon Bridge, Yellow Submarine, SOHA, Survivor Space, OCVA, South Oxfordshire Family Space, Food Bank, SOFEA, Dunmore School, Medical Research, computing in San Francisco, and of course TrinityLearning.

These social care organisations provided opportunities for small groups of Larkmead students to meet, understand, and find ways of supporting people. Over five days each group gave physical help, found activity ideas, held discussions, made eye-catching promotion advertisements and created websites.

Photo shows Larkmead students taking part in TrinityLearning’s Toolkit for Happiness project as part of their Make a Difference Week.

For the presentation, each group came to the stage with prepared on screen photos and films, every individual contributing as to how their group had supported their chosen charity.

Most groups were made up of six to eight students, though TrinityLearning had eighteen volunteers who were trained in leadership – working with Year 7 pupils, sharing indoor and outdoor activities with them to promote their self-confidence and wellbeing.

The overall impression of the presentation was of mutually supportive collaboration within the Year 12 groups, and of kindness and hard work providing satisfaction and goodwill.

Drinks and cake for all participants after the presentation ended a splendid occasion.